Bell 412

Last updated

Bell 412
(1)Police Helicopter 039.jpg
Bell 412EP of the NSW Police Sydney
RoleMultipurpose utility helicopter
National origin United States/Canada
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter
First flightAugust 1979;44 years ago (1979-08)
Introduction1981;43 years ago (1981)
Primary users Japan Ground Self Defence Force
See Operators for others
Produced1979–present
Number builtOver 869
Developed from Bell 212
Variants Bell CH-146 Griffon

The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.

Contents

Design and development

Development began in the late 1970s with two Bell 212s being converted into 412 prototypes. An advanced four-blade main rotor with a smaller diameter replaced the 212's two-blade rotor. A Bell 412 prototype first flew in August 1979. The initial model was certified in January 1981 with deliveries commencing in the same month. [1] The 412 model was followed by the 412SP (Special Performance) version featuring larger fuel capacity, higher takeoff weight and optional seating arrangements. In 1991, the 412HP (High Performance) variant with improved transmission replaced the SP version in production. [1]

The current production version, 412EP (Enhanced Performance), is equipped with a dual digital automatic flight control system. In 2013 Bell introduced the 412EPI which includes an electronic (digital) engine control for a PT6T-9 engine upgrade, and a glass cockpit display system similar to the Bell model 429. Also featured is a Garmin touchscreen navigation system, and the BLR Strake and Fast Fin upgrades for improved hover performance. [2] Over 700 Model 412s (including 260 by AgustaWestland) have been built. [3] [ unreliable source? ]

Variants

Bell 412
Standard Model with P&WC PT6T-3B
Bell 412SP
Special Performance version with P&WC PT6T-3BF engines
Bell 412HP
High performance version with P&WC PT6T-3BG or -3D engines
Bell 412CF (CH-146 Griffon)
100 custom-built utility transport helicopters for the Canadian Forces, based on 412EP and designated by Bell as 412CF
Bell 412EP
Enhanced performance version with P&WC PT6T-3DF engines
Bell 412EPI
Glass cockpit version with P&WC PT6T-9 electronic controlled engines
Bell Griffin HT1
Advanced training helicopter based on the Bell 412EP, operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) between 1997 and 2018 as an advanced flying trainer. Operated by the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury and the Search and Rescue Training Unit at RAF Valley.
Bell Griffin HAR2
Search and Rescue helicopter based on the Bell 412EP, operated by No. 84 Squadron RAF between 2003 and 2023 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Agusta-Bell AB 412
Civil utility transport version, built under license in Italy by Agusta. [4]
Agusta-Bell AB 412EP
Italian-built version of the Bell 412EP. [4]
Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone
Military utility transport version, built under licence in Italy by Agusta. [4]
UH-X prototype Prototype of the UH-X ahead of her first flight.png
UH-X prototype
Agusta-Bell AB 412 CRESO
Italian-built version, fitted with a ground surveillance radar.
NBell 412
Indonesian IPTN's licensed product of Bell 412 [4]
Subaru-Bell UH-2 (formerly UH-X) [5]
Modified version of the Bell 412 EPI; 150 on order to meet the JGSDF's requirement for a UH-1J replacement. [6] [7] [8]
Subaru-Bell 412EPX
Commercial version of UH-X. [9]

Operators

The Bell 412 is used by private and commercial operators. It is particularly popular in the oil industries, military, and for law enforcement use.

Military operators

Chilean Air Force Bell 412 Bell 412 Chilean Air Force (FACh).JPG
Chilean Air Force Bell 412
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
A Slovenian Air Force Bell 412 Slovenian Air Force Bell 412 (cropped).jpg
A Slovenian Air Force Bell 412
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe
An Italian Guardia di Finanza Agusta Bell AB-412 Agusta-Bell AB-412HP, Italy - Guardia di Finanza (framed).jpg
An Italian Guardia di Finanza Agusta Bell AB-412

Government operators

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Croatian Ministry of Interior [25]
A Finnish Frontier Guard Agusta Bell AB-412 Bell412 OH HVD.jpg
A Finnish Frontier Guard Agusta Bell AB-412
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
An LA County Fire Dept. 412 sits atop a helipad in the mountains in the Angeles National Forest. LACoFD Air 18.jpg
An LA County Fire Dept. 412 sits atop a helipad in the mountains in the Angeles National Forest.
Flag of the United States.svg  United States

Former

Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Incidents and accidents

On April 4, 1991, a Bell 412 and Piper Aerostar collided in mid-air over a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All five people on both aircraft, including United States senator John Heinz, along with two children on the ground, were killed.

On April 22, 1994, a Bell 412 medical Helicopter AirCare [49] from North Carolina Baptist Hospital crashed into mountainous terrain near Bluefield, West Virginia, killing all four crew members on board.

On 9 July 2002, a Bell 412 from the El Salvador Air Force crashed after a lightning strike, killing all four crew members and three passengers on board.

On December 10, 2006, a Bell 412 medical helicopter Mercy Air 2 crashed in mountainous terrain near Hesperia, California. All three crew members on board died.

On December 7, 2023, a Bell 412 EPI Helicopter operated by Guyanese military went down with 2 crew and 5 senior officers, at the border between Venezuela and Guyana during bad weather.

Specifications (412EP)

Bell 412 Line Drawing.svg
Rotor head and transmission of a Bell 412 Bell 412 transmission and head.jpg
Rotor head and transmission of a Bell 412

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft, [50] Bell 412EP Product Specifications [51]

General characteristics

900 shp (671 kW) single power section emergency power

Performance

See also

Related development

Related lists

Related Research Articles

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